Machine for operating on shoes



April J: c. JORGENSEN 2,153,570

MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOES Filed April 15, 1938 Flgl.

Patented Apr. 11, 1939 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE MACHINE FOR OPERATING ON SHOES Application April 13, 1938, Serial No. 201,776

13 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for operating on shoes, and is herein illustrated as applied to a heel-end lasting machine of the same general character as disclosed in United States Letters Patent N 0. 2,059,241, granted on November 3, 1936 upon an application of mine. A particular object of the invention is to provide improved means for clamping uppers about the heel ends of their lasts in the heel-end lasting operation; but it is to be understood that in various aspects the invention is not limited to lasting machines or to machines for operating on the heel ends of shoes.

In lasting the heel ends of shoes it is important, for the best results, that the heel-end portion of the upper materials be pressed firmly against the last'all around the heel end of the last, especially in locations near the edge of the heel seat. To accomplish this result a substantial amount of pressure is required, by reason of the stiffness.

of the counter included in the upper materials. For applying such pressure heel-end lasting machines are commonly provided with upper-clamping means comprising a flexible heel band for embracing the heel end of the upper and means for forcing the band inwardly against the upper. The present invention provides improved upper-clamping means such as to afford increased insurance that adequate pressure will be applied to the upper at the corners of the heel end of the last, where especially heavy pressure is sometimes needed, as well as in other locations around the heel portion of the last. For the purposes in View, the construction herein shown comprises a chain-like clamping device arranged to extend around the heel end of the last at the outer side of the usual heel band for pressing the band inwardly near the edge of the heel seat, and bell'crank levers connected respectively to the opposite end portions of this clamping device and mounted to swing about axes extending heightwise of the last to tighten the device about the band lengthwise of the last, the bell-crank levers being also bodily movable widthwis of the last for pressing the band inwardly toward the sides of the last in response to the force applied for swinging them. Such tightening of the device about the band serves to increase the pressure of the band on the upper at the corners of the last.

As illustrated, the above-mentioned chain-like clamping device comprises a series of blocks arranged to press inwardly against the heel band around the end of the last; and in order to in- 5 sure that adequate inward pressure will be applied to the end portions of the band which are opposite portions of the last which have a pronounced inward curvature toward the heel seat, the endmost blocks of the series, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, are not connected directly to theblocks next in line, but are connected thereto by links on which the above-mentioned bell-crank levers directly act. This construction permits the endmost blocks to be forced bodily inward relatively to the blocks next in line in the pressure-applying operation, and also serves to distribute the pressure more evenly between the endmost blocks and blocks next in line than if the bell-crank levers were connected directly to the endmost blocks.

In order still further to increase the pressure on the upper at the corners of the end of the last, the above-mentioned chain-like clamping device may, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, be so constructed that the pivotal connection between a pair of the blocks located opposite each corner of the last is farther from the band than the pivotal connections between those blocks and the next blocks of the series. Accordingly the forces applied to the ends of the device to tighten it about the band will cause the device toact with increased mechanical advantage at the corners of the last.

In a heel-end lasting machine the pressure of the wipers on the margins of the upper in the lasting operation, if the upper is made of heavy stock, may cause the work support or jack to yield in a direction lengthwise of the last enough to permit a slight displacement of the last in that direction. In order to prevent the pressure of the upper-clamping means on the upper at the end face of the last from being relaxed under those conditions, the invention further provides a construction such that if any lengthwise. displacement of the last occurs in response to the action of the wipers on the upper, the upper-clamping means moves with the last without altering its relation to the last. As herein illustrated, the heel band and the above-mentioned chain-like clamping device are movable as a unit with the last against the resistance of a comparatively light spring in the event of any such displacement of the last.

The above and other features of the invention, including various novel details of construction and combinations of parts, will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing and thereafter pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a machine of the character disclosed in the previously mentioned Letters Patent with features of the present invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a view on a smaller scale, partly in left-hand side elevation and partly in section, showing portions of the machine as they appear when a shoe is presented in position to be operated upon;

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the left-hand portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing certain. parts differently constructed than in Fig. 1.

A machine of the illustrated type includes in its organization a shoe support or jack 2 mounted to swing from an initial forwardly inclined position to carry the shoe rearwardly into position to be clamped about its heel end by a flexible heel band 4 usually made of stiff leather, the shoe being forced lengthwise against the band by the movement of the jack before the band is closed. The jack is provided with a post 6 which is raised to force the bottom of the heel end of the shoe against a holddown 8 before the shoe is clamped by the closing of the heel band. After the clamping operation the margin of the heel end of the upper is wiped inwardly over the insole by wipers l0 whichare advanced lengthwise of the shoe and are closed inwardly toward each other laterally of the shoe. The wipers are then retracted and the shoe and band are raised slightly by the post 6, after which the wipers are again operated to wipe the margin of the upper more firmly over the insole. Tacks are then driven through openings in the wipers by a gang of tack drivers I2 to fasten the upper to the insole. For a more detailed description of the cycle of operations the above-mentioned Letters Patent may be consulted.

For closing the heel band 4 inwardly against the upper there are provided, as also disclosed in the prior Letters Patent, a pair of bell-crank levers l4 mounted to swing about rods 16 and operated by rack bars Hi to swing the forwardly extending arms 28 of the levers inwardly toward the sides of the heel end of the shoe, the rack bars being operated yieldingly through a spring 2|, In the construction herein shown these bell-crank levers are arranged to act on a flexible chain-like clamping device 22 which extends about the upper portion of the heel band and comprises a series of blocks arranged to press inwardly against the band. One of these blocks, shown at 24, is arranged to engage the band in a location directly opposite the extreme end face of the shoe and is supported as hereinafter described. Pivotally connected at 26 to the opposite sides of the block 24 are blocks 28, and pivotally connected at 30 to these blocks are blocks 32. Pivotally connected in a similar manner to the blocks 32 are blocks 34, and pivotally connected to these blocks are'blocks 36. The endmost blocks 38 of the series are not directly connected to the blocks 36, but are spaced therefrom a short distance lengthwise of the shoe, each pair of blocks 36' and 38 being connected together by a link 48 which is pivoted at 42 to the block 36 andat 44 to theblock 38. Pivotally connected-to each link 40 is an inwardly extending arm 46 of a bell-crank lever 48 mounted to swing about apin 50 onthe forward end of a curved arm 52 the rear end of which is pivotally connected at 54 to an arm 56 formed on a member hereinafter described. The other ,arm 58 of each bell-crank lever 48, which extends rearwardly lengthwise of the shoe, is connected by a link 60 to the forwardly extending arm 20 of one of the bell-crank levers l4. It will thus be seen that in response to inward swinging movements of the arms 28 the bell-crank levers 48 are swung about the pins 58 to tighten the chainlike clamping device 22 about the band 4 by force applied to the end portions of the device in directions lengthwise of the last, so that the blocks 28, 32 and 34 act to press the band inwardly against the upper in locations opposite the corners of the heel end of the last. It will also be evident that through the same force applied to the bell-crank levers 48 by the arms 20 these bell-crank levers are moved bodily inward to press the band against the upper in locations opposite the sides of the last by reason of the provision for swinging movements of the arms 52 which support these bell-crank levers. In this pressure-applying operation the endmost blocks 38 are forced bodily inward relatively to the blocks 36 which are next in line by reason of the provision of the links 40 connecting the blocks 38 and 38, this construction affording insurance iat, adequate pressure will be applied to the band by the endmost blocks. It will also be evident that through the links 40 the pressure is distributed between the blocks 36 and 38 more effectively than would be the case if the bell crank levers 48 were connected directly to the endmost blocks 38.

For still better insurance that the endmost blocks 38 will conform the band properly to the last in locations where the sides of the last have a pronounced inward curvature toward the heel seat, these blocks are made in two parts 62 and 64, the part 62 of each block being directly connected to the link 40 and the other part 64 being pivotally connected to the part 62 by a horizontal pin 66 to permit swinging movement of the part 64 about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe. A spring 68 holds the part 64 normally in a relation to the part 62 determined by the interengagement of shoulders on these parts, but permits the part 64 to swing in one direction for better conformity to the shape of the last in the pressure-applying operation.

In the construction herein shown the band 4 is supported near each of its opposite ends by a clip HI-which is fastened to an extension '52 of the arm 52. To insure the proper outward swinging movements of the arms 52 in the return of the parts to starting positions, each bell-crank lever 48 is provided with a lug 14 arranged to engage a screw it mounted in the arm 52 to limit the swinging of the bell-crank lever about the pin 50.

The heel band 4 is adjustable as heretofore in directions lengthwise of the shoe by means of a rack slide 18 (Fig. 2) engaged by a pinion 8Q formed on a shaft 82 (Fig. 1) to which turning movement may be imparted by a crank arm 84. In the construction herein shown the previously mentioned arms 56 which support the swinging arms 52 are formed on this slide. In this construction also provision is afforded for yielding movement of the heel band, together with the chain-like clamping device 22, in a forward direction lengthwise of the shoe relatively to the slide 18. The band is fastened to an angular clip 8'5 supported by a screw '88 which is threaded in the lower end of a stem extending downwardly from the block 24 of the clamping device 22, and

this stem is mounted in a sleeve member 92 integral with which is a horizontal rearwardly extneding rod 94. This rod is movably mounted in the slide 18 and is surrounded by a spring 96 which bears at its forward end against a shoulder on the slide and at its rear end against a collar 98 fast on the rod. It will thus be seen that provision is afforded for forward movement of the block 24 and of the heel band against the resistance of the spring 96, and since the bell-crank levers 48 apply a forwardly directed pull to the end portions of the clamping device 22 when the heel end of a shoe is under clamping pressure, this device and the heel band are forwardly movable as a unit. Accordingly, if in the operation of the machine the pressure of the wipers against the upper results in any forward displacement of the shoe by reason of any slight yield of the jack, the heel band and the chainlike clamping device are correspondingly displaced, so that there will be no danger that the pressure of the band against the extreme end of the upper will be relaxed. It will be understood that the spring 96 is a comparatively light spring the force of which is only suificient to effect the return of the block 24 to its normal position.

Fig. 4 shows a modified construction which is like that shown in Fig. 1 except that blocks lfili and I02 of the chain-like clamping device are so formed that portions of them are wider than the corresponding blocks 32 and 34 in the construction shown in Fig. 1 and the pivotal connections I 04 between them are located farther from the heel band 4 than their pivotal connections I06 and I08 to the next blocks of the series. Accordingly the forces applied in directions lengthwise of the shoe to the clamping device by the bell-crank levers 48 cause the device toact with increased mechanical advantage in lo cations opposite the corners of the heel end of the last. This construction may be used in operating on work of such a character that par ticularly heavy pressure is required in those locations.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine for operating on shoes, flexible clamping means arranged to extend around an end of a last to clamp an upper on the last, bellcrank levers associated respectively with the opposite end portions of said clamping means and mounted to swing about axes extending height wise of the last to tighten said means about the end of the last by force applied thereto lengthwise of the last, said bell-crank levers being also mounted for bodily movements widthwise of the last to force the clamping means inwardly toward the sides of the last, and means for impartsuch bodily movements and swinging movements to said bell-crank levers by force applied thereto in directions widthwise of the last.

2. In a machine for operating on shoes, flexible clamping means arranged to extend around an end of a last to clamp an upper on the last, bellcrank levers associated respectively with the opposite end portions of said clamping means and mounted to swing about axes extending heightwise of the last to tighten said means about the ends of the last by force applied thereto lengthwise of the last, said bell-crank levers being also mounted for bodily movements widthwise of the last to force the clamping means inwardly toward the sides of the last, arms mounted for swinging movements widthwise of the last, and links con necting said arms to the bell-crank levers for imparting to said levers their bodily movements and swinging movements by movements of said arms.

3. In a machine for operating on shoes, flexible clamping means arranged to extend around an end of a last to clamp an upper on the last, bell-crank levers associated respectively with the opposite end portions of said clamping means and mounted to swing about axes extending heightwise of the last to tighten said means about the end of the last by force applied thereto lengthwise of the last, arms mounted for swinging movements widthwise of the last and supporting said bell-crank levers for bodily movements to force the clamping means inwardly toward the sides of the last, and other arms mounted to swing widthwise of the last and connected to said bell-crank levers for imparting to said levers their swinging movements and for also moving them bodily toward the sides of the last by swinging movements of said first-named arms.

4. In a machine for operating on shoes, flexible clamping means arranged to extend around an end of a last to clamp an upper on the last, bell-crank levers associated respectively with the opposite'end portions of said clamping means and having arms extending widthwise of the last and connected to said means and other arms extending lengthwise of the last, said bell-crank levers being arranged to apply tightening force lengthwise of the last to the clamping means by swinging movements of said other arms toward the sides of the last, means supporting the bellcrank levers also for bodily movements widthwise of the last to force said clamping means inwardly toward the sides of the last, and members connected to said other arms for imparting to the bell-crank levers their bodily movements and swinging movements.

5. In a machine for operating on shoes, a flexible band arranged to extend around an end of a last to clamp an upper on the last, a chain-like clamping device also arranged to extend around the end of the last and located at the outer side of said band for pressing the band against the upper, bell-crank levers connected respectively to the opposite end portions of said clamping device and mounted to swing about axes extending heightwise of the last to tighten said device about the band lengthwise of the last, said bellcrank levers being also mounted for bodily movements widthwise of the last to force said device and band inwardly toward the sides of the last, and means for imparting such bodily movements and swinging movements to said bell-crank levers by force applied thereto in directions widthwise of the last.

6. In a machine for operating on shoes, a flexible band arranged to extend around an end of a last to clamp an upper on the last, a chain-like clamping device also arranged to extend around the end of the last and located at the outer side of said band for pressing the band against the upper, bell-crank levers associated respectively with the opposite end portions of said clamping device and having arms extending widthwise of the last and connected to said device and other arms extending lengthwise of the last, said bellcrank levers being arranged to tighten said device about the band lengthwise of the last by swinging movements of said other arms toward the sides of the last, means supporting the bellcrank levers also for bodily movements widthwise of the last to force said device and band inwardly toward the sides of the last, and members movable widthwise oi the last and connected to said other arms of the bell-crank levers for imparting to said levers their bodily movements and Swinging movements.

7. In a machine for operating on shoes, a flexible band arranged to extend around an end of a last to clamp an upper on the last, a chainlike clamping device also arranged to extend around the end of the last and located at the outer side of said band, said device comprising a series of blocks for pressing the band against the upper, links connecting the endmost blocks of the series with the blocks next in line, and members arranged to act through said links to force the endmost blocks and the blocks next in line inwardly toward the sides of the last and also to tighten said clamping device about the band lengthwise of the last.

8. In a. machine for operating on shoes, a flexible band arranged to extend around an end of a last to clamp an upper on the last, a chainlike clamping device also arranged to extend around the end of the last and located at the outer side of said band, said device comprising a series of blocks for pressing the band against the upper, links connecting the endmost blocks of the series with the blocks next in line and supporting said endmost blocks for bodily movements in directions widthwise of the last relatively to said next blocks, and members connected to said links substantially midway between the opposite ends of the links for forcing the endmost blocks and the blocks next in line inwardly toward the sides of the last and for also tightening said clamping device about the band lengthwise of the last.

9. In a machine for operating on shoes, a flexible band arranged to extend around an end of a last to clamp an upper on the last, a chainlike clamping device also arranged to extend around the end of the last and located at the outer side of said band, said device comprising a series of blocks for pressing the band against the upper, links connecting the endmost blocks of the series with the blocks next in line, bellcrank levers connected to said links and arranged to swing about axes extending heightwise of the last and thus to act through the links to tighten said clamping device about the band lengthwise of the last, said bell-crank levers being also mounted for bodily movements widthwise of the last to force the endmost blocks and the blocks next in line inwardly toward the sides of the last, and means for imparting such bodily movements and swinging movements to said bellcrank levers.

10. In a machine for operating on shoe-s, a flexible band arranged to extend around an end of a last to clamp an upper on the last, a chainlike clamping device also arranged to extend around the end of the last and located at the outer side of said band for pressing the band against the upper, said device comprising a plurality of blocks pivotally connected together in a series, and means connected to the opposite end portions of said clamping device for tightening it about the band by force applied to said device lengthwise of the last, the pivotal connection between a pair of said blocks located opposite each corner of the end of the last being located farther from the band than the pivotal connections between those blocks and the next blocks of the series.

11. In a heel-end lasting machine, the combination with wipers for wiping the margin of the heel end of an upper inwardly over the bottom of a last, of a flexible band arranged to extend around the heel end of the last to clamp the upper on the last, a work support movable in a direction lengthwise of the last to carry the last and upper toward said band and to press the upper against the band, a chain-like clamping device also arranged to extend around the heel end of the last and located at the outer side of said band for pressing the band against the upper, and members connected respectively to the opposite end portions of said clamping device for tightening it about the band lengthwise of the last and for pressing the band inwardly toward the sides of the last, said clamping device and band being mounted to move as a unit with the last in a direction lengthwise of the last in the event of any displacement of the last in that direction by the action of the wipers on the upper.

12. In a heel-end lasting machine, the combination with wipers for wiping the margin of the heel end of an upper inwardly over the bottom of a last, of a flexible band arranged to extend around the heel end of the last to clamp the upper on the last, a work support movable in a direction lengthwise of the last to carry the last and upper toward said band and to press the upper against the band, a chain-like clamping device also arranged to extend around the heel end of the last and located at the outer side of said band for pressing the band against the upper, bell-crank levers connected respectively to the opposite end portions of said clamping device and mounted to swing about axes extending heightwise of the last to tighten said device about the band lengthwise of the last and also to move bodily widthwise of the last to force said device and band inwardly toward the sides of the last, means for imparting such bodily movements and swinging movements to said bellcrank levers by force applied thereto in directions widthwise of the last, and a spring against the resistance of which 'said clamping device and band are movable as a unit with the last in a direction lengthwise of the lastin the event of any displacement of the last in that direction by the action of the wipers on the upper.

13. In a heel-end lasting machine, the combination with wipers for wiping the margin of the heel end of an upper inwardly over the bottom of a last, of a flexible band arranged to extend around the'heel end of the last to clamp the upper on the last, a work support movable in a direction lengthwise of the last to carry the last and upper toward said band and to press the upper against the band, a chain-like clamping device also arranged to extend around the heel end of the last and located at the outer side of said band for pressing the band against the upper, members connected respectively to the opposite end portions of said clamping device for tightening it about the band lengthwise of the last and for pressing the band inwardly toward the sides of the last, a slide movable in directions lengthwise of the last to adjust said clamping device and band, and a spring against the resistance of which said clamping device and band are movable as a unit relatively to said slide in a direction lengthwise of the last in the event of any displacement of the last in that direction by the action of the wipers on the upper.

JACOB C. J ORGENSEN. 

